Savage M1918 Aircraft Lewis at the Range (With Rare Tripod Mount!)

This video provides a concise overview of the legendary Lewis Gun, highlighting its historical importance in WWI, its pop culture presence in Star Wars, and its unique mechanical features. The presenter, demonstrating high expertise, details the open bolt, rotating bolt, long-stroke piston action, the distinctive pan-style magazine, and its internal cooling system. The segment concludes with a blooper showing the firearm tipping over.

This guide covers the basic operational aspects of the Savage M1918 Aircraft Lewis Gun, highlighting its unique features for aerial combat. Key differences from ground variants include the spade grip, lack of a cooling shroud, and a larger 97-round pan magazine. The firearm utilizes an open-bolt, gas-operated action and features a specialized muzzle brake for increased rate of fire and a Norman wind vane sight for aerial targeting. Instruction is provided by Ian McCollum, a recognized expert in historical firearms.

This video from the Royal Armouries offers an immersive look at trench warfare on the Western Front in 1917. It details the use of iconic WWI firearms like the Lee-Enfield rifle, Lewis Gun, and Vickers Gun, alongside close-quarters combat tools such as the Trench Club and Mills Bomb No. 5. The presentation emphasizes the harsh realities and dangers faced by soldiers.

This video from Forgotten Weapons, hosted by Ian McCollum, analyzes why drum magazines are less common than box magazines despite their higher capacity. McCollum, a recognized expert in historical firearms, details the mechanical complexities, manufacturing difficulties, and logistical disadvantages of drum magazines compared to their more prevalent box counterparts. The analysis covers historical examples like the BAR, Thompson SMG, Suomi KP/-31, PPSH-41, and RPK, highlighting military transitions towards box magazines for improved reliability and field usability.

This guide details the loading and operational basics of the British Lewis Gun, as presented by C&Rsenal. It covers the use of the specialized loading tool for the 47-round drum magazine and highlights the firearm's open bolt action, air-cooled barrel, and adjustable bipod. Expert instruction emphasizes the importance of safe handling and awareness of potential malfunctions like double feeds.

This guide details the specific technique for separating two MAS-36 rifles that have been inadvertently locked together by their bayonets. It outlines the historical context of this issue, the modification made to the bayonet to resolve it, and the step-by-step procedure for disengagement. The technique requires precise alignment and the use of a pointed tool to access the internal release mechanism, as demonstrated by firearms expert Ian McCollum.

This guide details the loading and firing procedure for the M134 Minigun, as explained by Ian McCollum. It covers manual indexing of the barrel cluster, feeding the ammunition belt, engaging controls, and firing. The guide also touches upon the weapon's spin-down inertia and the function of modern clutch systems. Expert instruction from a recognized firearms historian highlights the technical aspects of operating this powerful weapon system.

This guide details the operational features of the H&K G11 K2, a prototype assault rifle known for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt. It covers the selector settings, magazine capacity, integrated optics, and the internal action designed for recoil management during high-rate-of-fire bursts. Expert insights from Ian McCollum highlight the historical context and technical innovations of this advanced firearm.

This guide details the operation of the German L.Gr.W.36 50mm light mortar, as demonstrated by expert Ian McCollum. It covers assembly, leveling procedures, ammunition handling, and live fire execution, emphasizing the difficulty in visually tracking the projectile. The instruction highlights the importance of proper setup for accuracy.